[DD Martin]

Monday April 27th through Sunday May 3rd 1970

With Monday we have an off-day before we continue our 10-game homestand with the last 3 games. The off-day keeps our pitching staff able to use a 4-man staff for now, but we will watch closely as we have 9 straight games. So far our pitchers have shown great stamina (love that about games before 2005 or so).

We are still looking for ways to improve our team but right now, no team is really in the market to do much. Of course Kansas City who is coming to town has the worst record in all of baseball so we will take a good hard look at their team while they are knocking around the mausoleum known as Sick(s) Stadium.

Kansas City Greyhounds (3-10) vs Seattle Tridents (7-5)

The Greyhounds have been brutal in the first 2 weeks of the season scoring the fewest runs (32) and giving up the most runs (66) in the North American League. They rank pretty much last in all categories and are 2-4 away from home. They are led by 1B Eric Kyger (24) who is hitting a respectable 298/370/732 on the season with 0 home runs and 6 RBI’s. Ancient RF Doug Weaver (39) is considered their next best player, which doesn’t bode well for the future. CF Grant McKenna (22) 262/347/752 checks in next. They look to have a great closer in Rodney Williams (24) but he hasn’t gotten a lot of work but did manage to save a game. We will see their outstanding pitcher Bobby Quezada on Thursday in game 3 of the series.

Probably Starting Pitching Matchups

Will Somerville (1-2 4.12 ERA) vs Tony Ballou (0-1 6.55 ERA)
Mike Wynns (2–1 4.79 ERA) vs Micah Garner (1-1 2.57 ERA)
Jimmy Martin (1-1 3.86 ERA) vs Bobby Quezada (1-0 2.14 ERA)

KC - SS J Kelleher, RF D Weaver, 1B E Kyger, CF G McKenna, 3B D Orejel, 2B S Eyring, LF G Ramirez, C M Marple, P M Garner

Sea - CF J Collins, 2B R Marquez, LF C Carmona, 1B R Reed, RF M McDonald, SS A Weber, C A Pardo, P W Somerville

Game 1 (13)

LF Carlos Carmona is quickly becoming a fan favorite here at Sicks Stadium, as with 2 outs in a tie game at 3, Carmona smashed a 3-run home run to give the Tridents a lead they would not lose. For Carmona it was his 3rd home run of the season while also driving in 4 RBI’s to give him a share of the team led with 12. Carmona’s blast made a winner out of young starting pitcher Will Somerville who went 8 solid if unspectacular innings giving up 8 hits and 3 runs. Somerville was victimized 2 home runs that allowed all the Greyhounds runs. Closer Kyle Gorman notched his 5th save of the season after only 13 games. 2B Marquez set a league record with 4 walks in a game. Seattle wins 6-3

LF C Carmona 3-5 1R, HR, 4 RBI’s SB, CF J Collins 2-4, 2DB, BB RBI, R, 2B R Marquez 0-1 4BB 2R, CL K Gorman 1IP 1H 0R S-5

A - 16,252, T - 2:54
POTG - Carlos Carmona, Seattle

KC has decided to mix up their rotation tonight and moves up game 3 SP Bobby Quezada to start tonight's contest. The question now will be who will start the final game of this series for Kansas City.

KC - SS J Kelleher, RF D Weaver, 1B E Keyger, CF G McKenna, 3B D Orejel, 2B S Eyring, LF S Rodgers, C M Marple, SP B Quezada

Sea - CF J Collins, 2B R Marquez, LF C Carmona, 1B R Reed, 3B A Pena, RF C Jeoffrey, SS A Weber, C A Pardo, P M Wynns

Game #2 (14)

Bad weather was around all night, but the really bad stuff came a bit to late for the Tridents. On what is best described as a poster for why Seattle needs a domed stadium, Wednesday night had it all. The game was played through a constant drizzle, but Seattle managed to lead 2-0 through 6 innings. The Greyhounds had hit only 2 home runs in their first 13 games, but managed their 3rd home run in 2 games in Seattle. The deciding blast was hit by SS Joe Kelleher who smacked his 3rd home run of the season, this one a 3-run shot that put the visitors ahead for good in the game that was called with 2 outs in the top of the 8th inning. Seattle SP Mike Wynns was not especially sharp giving up 4 walks to go along with 4 hits, but despite giving up the game losing home run, he was called the player of the game…..uh huh….My vote went to Kelleher of KC or even Quezada for the winning team. Kansas City wins 3-2 (top of 8th)

RF C Jeoffrey 2-2 BB, J Collins 1-3 HR R


A - 17,538 T - 3:23
POTG - SP Mike Wynns Seattle (2)

The answer to who will start this game for Kansas City was answered as the Greyhounds decided to skip Micah Garner altogether and Jon Lozoya (22) in the rubber match. Lozoya comes into the game with a 0-3 record and a 5.03 ERA.

Game #3 (15)
KC - SS J Kelleher, RF D Weaver, 1B E Kyger, CF G McKenna, 3B D Orejel, C M Marple, LF T Watson, 2B S Eyring, SP J Lozoya

Sea - CF J Collins, 2B R Marquez, 1B R Reed, 3B A Pena, LF C Carmona, RF D Henderson, C A Pardo, SS A Weber, P J Martin

A shocking thing happened on this night, and no it wasn’t that it didn’t rain on the last day of April in Seattle. The shocking thing was Kansas City’s anemic offense erupted for 7 runs over the course of the 4th and 5th innings off SP Jimmy Martins and the unthinkable happened. Kansas City embarrassed Seattle 7-5 and took 2 of the 3 games of this series. LF Carlos Carmona tried to keep the Tridents in this game going 3-3 scoring 2 runs and driving in 2 more (14), but it was not enough for the hometown club who went 4-5 on this 9 game homestand. Not really much more to say as the team heads out of town with an 8-7 in a virtual 3-way tie with Portland (ugh) and San Francisco at the top of the NAL Western Division. Greyhounds win 7-5

LF C Carmona 3-3 2R 2 RBI

A - 16,955 T - 3:01
POTG - Carlos Carmona Seattle (2)


Seattle Tridents 8-7 @ Houston Oilers 9-6

We start the month of May on the road going down to Houston to take on the Oilers. The 9-6 Oilers are in 2nd place in the NAL Central division trailing 1st place St. Louis by ½ game. The Oilers are a +8 in run differential this season scoring the 3rd most runs in the NAL while giving up the 5th fewest 54. By contrast Seattle has scored 58, given up 58 for a 0 run differential and their 8-7 record appears justified. This series will have a battle of two of the best bullpens in the NAL with Houston coming in at #3 and Seattle at #1 (at least we are doing something well). Houston on the season has yet to taste defeat at home but has only played 2 games at home. Hopefully we can tag a few losses on that home ledger.

Probably Pitching Matchups

Ryan Conner 1-0 3.71 vs Antonio Solis 0-1 4.15
Will Somerville 2-2 3.90 vs Robert Padilla 0-0 0.00 (first start but has 5 scoreless relief IP)
Mike Wynns 2-2 4.13 vs David Paeth 1-1 4.82

Game #1 (16)
Sea - CF J Collins, 2B R Marquez, LF G Carmona, 1B R Reed, 3B A Pena, RF C Jeoffrey, SS A Weber, C M Salazar, SP R Conner

Hous - CF M Stahl, RF S Strate, LF J Bellard, SS J Hobock, 1B P Hoveling, 3B J Parker, C C Alleshouse, 2B N Bremer, P A Solis

Neither SP was sharp and neither got through 4 innings of work. Seattle SP Ryan Conner departed trailing 6-4 after 3 innings of misery, but he was not to be outdone by his Houston counterpart. Oilers SP Antonio Solis managed to get into the 4th, but also managed to only get 2 more out and trailing upon his exit 7-6. Once the starters got out of the way, the game settled down and eventually went into extra innings. The Tridents who banged out 18 hits in the ballgame lead by CF Joe Collins settling a league record with 5 hits in a game (5-6), also managed to strand 18 runners left on base. That eventually proved to be their downfall. But in the top of the 11th Seattle as LF Carlos Carmona hit a sac fly to score C Pardo and the Tridents had a 8-7 lead and handed the game to closer Kyle Gorman. It looked good, but Gorman for whatever reason tonight didn’t have it. Gorman gave up leadoff back to back doubles to tie the game and then gave up a game ending single to Justin Parker with 1 out to end the game. Oilers win 9-8 in 11 innings

CF J Collins 5-6 DB 2R 2 SB, 2B Marquez 1-4 3BB R RBI, 3B A Pena 3-6, C Pardo 2-4 DB, R

A - 15,306 T - 3:50
POTG - Houston SS John Hobock

Game #2 (17)

Sea - CF J Collins, 2B R Marquez, LF C Carmona, 1B R Reed, 3B A Pena, RF M McDonald, SS A Weber, C Pardo, SP W Somerville

Hous - CF M Stahl, RF S Strate, LF J Bellard, SS J Hobock, 1B P Hoveling, 3B J Parker, C A Alleshouse, 2B N Bremer, P R Padilla

Houston continued its winning ways at home as they improved their home record to 4-0, while Seattle dropped its 4th straight game and manager Brian Wilde appears to be searching for answers. Seattle led 2-1 through 4 ½ innings of play, but then a familiar issue came up. A Seattle starting pitcher gave up a big inning. Rookie Wes Somerville (2-3 4.96 ERA) coughed up 5 runs, including giving up a 2-run homer to LF Justin Bellard. The Tridents fought back in the 6th with 3 runs but didn’t manage anymore and fell to the Oilers by a score of 6-5. For the first time this season, Seattle has a losing record 8-9 trailing Portland and San Francisco by 1 game.

RF M McDonald 2-4 2R, CF J Collins 1-2 2BB 2CS, A Weber 1-4 DB 2 RBI

A - 17,798 T 2:38
POTG - Houston LF Justin Bellard

Game #3 (18)

Sea - CF J Collins, 2B R Marquez, LF C Carmona, 1B R Reed, 3B A Pena, RF C Jeoffry, SS A Weber, C M Salazar, P M Wynns

Hous - CF M Stahl, RF S Strate, SS J Hobock, 1B P Hoveling, 3B J Parker, LF A Ferrel, C G Simkin, 2B N Bremer, P D Paeth

What the Tridents needed was a great start from SP Mike Wynns. What did Seattle get? A fabulous outing from Mike Wynns. Wynns went 8 innings giving up just 6 hits and 1 walk and left the game with Seattle clinging to a 2-0 lead courtesy an RBI by 3 Pena, and a single by SS Weber. Manager Wilde handed the ball to closer Kyle Gorman who had saved his first 5 games of the season before blowing the extra inning lead in game 1. It wasn’t easy for Gorman, giving up a walk and two singles, but he managed to hold on and close the game out. Seattle breaks its 4-game losing streak to climb back to 500 on the season with a 2-0 Seattle win.

SP M Wynns 8IP 6H 0R 1BB 3K W (3-2 3.22), SS Weber 3-4 RBI, BB, SB 1B A Reed 2-4 R, RF C Joeffrey 2-4
A 15,903 T 2:43
POTG SP Mike Wynns Seattle 3


Comments - A very disappointing week. Knew the series in Houston would be rough but what was so difficult was losing that series at home against Kansas City. That is definitely the low point of the season so far.

Right now as we figured at the start of the season, starting pitching is our biggest challenge, well that and finding a catcher that could hit water if falling out of a boat. Our starting rotation is currently 10th in the NAL with a 4.24 ERA. Spring signing Mike Wynns has been the best of that group going 3-2 with a 3.22 ERA. Wynns is the only starter with a sub 4.00 ERA. We have high hopes for the future for Wes Somerville but he is only 18 years old and is having the sort of ups and downs one would expect from a teenager facing major league hitters. We haven’t needed a 5th starter yet, but we are carrying Manny Jiminian on the roster and he isn’t getting much work. I am tempted to talk to Manager Brian Wilde and discuss if we should give him a start at home against soft hitting Cincinnati this week.

I know I am complaining about our catching but to be honest Adrian Pardo (31) is doing a very good job defensively early on and has managed a 236 batting average. He only has 1 extra base hit out of his 13 hits and he doesn’t walk. As in he hasn’t walked yet this season in 17 games (13 starts). We will definitely have an eye on catching in the draft along with pitching. Honestly we are in need of young talent at all positions, but pitching, catching and surprisingly the entire outfield seems to be our highest needs.

1B Rob Reed has only driven in 3 RBI’s since the 10 he posted in week 1. His average is up to the mid-200’s and his on-base % is 388 so I shouldn’t be complaining. To be fair Carlos Carmona has been driving in everyone in front of him with a team leading 19 RBI’s.


On the farm - All the in action minor league teams are struggling for wins. Tacoma (AAA) and El Paso (AA) are both 6-13, while Fresno (A) are not much better at 7-12. We are keeping our eyes on several players at Tacoma right now. 2B Kurt Regan could be working his way into position to be called up. If he came up he would take over 2B over Rafael Marquez who while slashing 250/455/812 is struggling some in the field. But Marquez would probably stay in the lineup and get a shot in LF to replace struggling RF Mike McDonald (36) who is hitting under my wife’s weight at 132.

NAL Player of the Month (April) C Caleb Hamill Montreal 347/407/1060 4HR 18RBI 8 runs

NAL Pitcher of the Month - Chris Jimenez San Francisco 4-0 1.39 ERA 6BB 18K 32.1 IP

NAL Rookie of the Month -2B Leo Sanchez San Francisco 333/408/984 22-66 3DB, 2T, 3HR, 8 RBI, 13 R, 9BB

PL Player of the Month Chicago SS Jesus Morales 388/426/977 1HR 3DB T 12 RBI 9R

PL Pitcher of the Month SP Josh Travis (40) Cleveland 2-0 0.00 ERA 1.04 WHIP

PL Rookie of the Month Phoenix CF Adan Garcia 283/316/787 3HR 8 RBI, 6 RS

Seattle Players of the month
Player of the Month - LF Carlos Carmona 393/431/1091 3HR 14 RBI’s 8 R
Pitcher of the Month - CL Kyle Gorman 1-0 5 saves 0.00 ERA
Rookie of the Month - 3B Angelo Pena 240/333/613 0HR 4 RBI’s 3R